Threaded element installing device



July 2, 1968 c. E. JAMES THREADED ELEMENT INSTALLING DEVICE Filed April20, 1966 INVENTOR. CULLEN E. JAMES United States Patent 3,390,597THREADED ELEMENT INSTALLING DEVICE Cullen E. James, Southgate, Calif,assignor to Newton Insert C0,, Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Apr. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 544,022 17 laims. (CI. 81-53)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool for installing and locking a threadedelement within a carrier part, and including a rotary spindle havingthreads at one end to which the threaded element is connected, andhaving a handle at its opposite end for turning the spindle, with thespindle extending through a piston and cylinder mechanism whose pistonis annular and disposed about the spindle. The piston carries a sleevewhich is displaceable axially by the piston to drive a locking portionof the threaded element to its locking position. The cylinder of themechanism carries another sleeve which is disposed about the firstmentioned sleeve and is engageable with the carrier part to limitadvancement of the threaded element into that part.

This invention relates to an improved tool for installing threadedfasteners, such as inserts or the like, within a carrier part.

The invention is particularly concerned with the installation offasteners of a type adapted to be screwed into a bore or recess in acarrier part, and to then be locked within the carrier part and againstunscrew-ing rotation therefrom by driving a predetermined lockingportion of the fastener structure to a locking position for preventingrotation of the device. In the form of the invention which isspecifically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the lockingportion of the fastener takes the form of a key or plurality of keyswhich are drivable axially to their locking positions. This type oflocking arrangement has been disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No.2,855,970, issued Oct. 14, 1958, inventor Robert Neuschotz.

A major object of the invention is to provide a tool for installing athreaded element or fastener having a locking portion, and which iscapable of performing the entire installation procedure, of firstscrewing the insert into a carrier part, and then driving the lockingportion to its locking position to complete the installation. As willappear, the tool is designed to be power actuated insofar as driving ofthe locking portion is concerned, but may if desired be manuallyoperable in advancing the element into the carrier part. Also, the toolmay be constructed to assist in accurate predetermination of the depthto which the threaded element is screwed into the carrier part.

structurally, a tool embodying the invention includes a first structurehaving threads adapted to be connected to the element to be installed,with the first structure being capable of rotation to screw the elementinto the carrier part. For then driving the keys or other lockingportion of the element to locking position, the tool includes a fluidactuated mechanism having a part which is movable axially of thethreaded element by fluid pressure, and is operable by that actuation todisplace axially a driving structure which engages and drives thelocking portion of the element to locking position. The fluid actuatedmechanism desirably includes a piston and a cylinder, with one of theseparts, preferably the piston, being movable axially to effect thediscussed driving action. For optimum functioning, the piston isdisposed about 3,390,597 Patented July 2, 1968 ice and movable relativeto the discussed first structure to which the threaded element isconnected and by which it is turned during advancement into the carrierpart. This first structure may be rotatable relative to and within thepiston and cylinder, and to facilitate such rotation may extend entirelyaxially through the cylinder to provide a threaded portion at one end ofthe cylinder for carrying the threaded element, and an actuating portionat the opposite end which is accessible for turning.

The above and other features and objects of the invention will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of the typicalembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tool embodying the invention, and showingalso an element to be installed by the tool, and a carrier part intowhich the element is to be screwed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial section through the FIG. 1 tool, showing itscondition after the element has been screwed into the carrier part, butbefore the locking keys have been driven to their final positions;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section corresponding to thelower portion of FIG. 2, but showing the tool after having driven thekeys axially;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1, the tool embodying the invention is illustrated at It and isto be utilized for screwing a threaded insert 11 into a carrier part 12.Part 12 contains a passage 13 containing threads 14 centered about anaxis 15, which may be disposed perpendicular to the outer transverseplanar surface 16 of the carrier part. Also, a short taperingfrusto-conical counter-sink surface 17 may be provided at the axiallyouter end of passage 13. The insert 11 to be installed in passage 13 isof the general type shown in US. Patent No. 2,855,970, and has anessentially tubular body 18 having external threads 19 adapted to bescrewed into, and dimensioned in correspondence with, internal threads14 of the carrier part. Body 18 of the insert has internal threads 20into which a screw or other mating part may be connected afterinstallation of the insert within carrier part 12, to thus connect thescrew to the carrier part through the medium of the insert. Theseinternal threads 20 are also utilized by tool 10 for holding and turningthe insert during its installation.

At two diametrically opposite locations, body 18 of the 1nsert containsa pair of grooves 21 extending axially along the outer surface of theinsert, and cutting through and interrupting external threads 19. Withinthese two grooves, there are mounted a pair of locking keys 22, eachhaving an axially inner portion 23 which is relatively thin radially,and an axially outer portion 24 which is thicker radially and initiallyprojects axially outwardly from the body of the insert in the mannerillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As best seen in FIG. 5, grooves 21 may beof dovetail cross sectional configuration, with portions 23 of the keysbeing tight frictional fits within the radially inner portions of thegrooves in a manner frictionally retaining the keys in the positions ofFIGS. 1 and 2 until the keys are forcibly driven axially to the FIG. 3position. Portions 23 of the keys, by virtue of their thin radialdimension, are received substantially entirely within the minor diameterof carrier part threads 14, and therefore do not interfere with threadedadvancement of body 18 into the carrier part to the FIG. 2 position. Inthat position, the axially inner extremities or shoulders 25 (FIG. 3) ofthe thickened locking portions 24 of the keys may engage countersinksurface 17 of the carrier part, in the relation illustrated in FIG. 2,to automatically halt (or as will appear at a later point of supplementthe action of the tool in halting) threaded advancement of the insert inthe FIG.

2 position in which the axially outer transverse end surface 26 of theinsert is set a predetermined slight distance inwardly beyond the planeof outer surface 16 of the carrier part. When driven axially from theFIG. 2 position to the FIG. 3 position, portions 24 of keys 22 cutthrough the material of the carrier part threads in a manner forming aneffective interlock against unscrewing rotation of the insert.

The tool for installing the above discussed insert 11 includes an outercylinder body 27 containing a piston 28 which is movable axially byfluid pressure from the normal full line position of FIG. 2 to theposition represented at 28 in broken lines in that figure. Extendingaxially through piston 26 there is a shaft or spindle 29 having externalthreads 30 at its lower or axially inner end corresponding to andengaging internal threads 20 of insert body 18, to connect the insert toshaft 29.

The outer cylinder body 27 may be formed of two sections 31 and 32, bothof which may be annular about axis 15 except to the extent that section32 is altered to provide a fluid inlet passage 33, and to carry a shaftretaining screw 34. As will be apparent, a compressed air supply line34', or other pressure fluid source, is connected into the desirablyinternally threaded inlet passage 33, which may communicate with aninner chamber 35 in section 32. For controlling the operation of thepiston, there may be connected into line 34 a valve 36, having anactuating handle 37, which in one position acts to admit compressed airinto chamber 35 to force the piston downwardly, and which in a secondposition places chamber 35 in communication with the atmosphere torelieve the pressure in that chamber and allow upward retraction of thepiston.

Section 31 of the cylinder body has a cylindrical side wall 38 definingan inner cylindrical wall surface which is annularly engaged in sealingrelation by the rings 40 of piston 28, to form a fluid tight sealpreventing flow of compressed air axially past the piston within thecylinder. At the lower end of cylindrical wall 38, the body section 31extends radially inwardly to define an annular transverse wall 41,beyond which the body forms a tubular axially extending portion 42terminating downwardly in a reduced diameter portion 43 having anannular planar stop shoulder or stop surface 44 formed at its lower oraxially inner end and disposed transversely of axis 15.

The piston is yieldingly urged upwardly by a coil spring 45 which isdisposed about axis 15 and bears at one end against a transverseshoulder 46 in cylinder body section 31, and at the opposite end againsta transverse annular surface 47 formed at one side of the piston. Theupward movement of the piston by spring 45 is limited by engagement ofupper transverse surface 48 of the piston with an annular transversesurface 49 of body section 32. The latter is threadedly connected tobody section 31 at 50, by an appropriately sealed threaded connection,so that the two sections 31 and 32 form together a sealed cylinder body.

Piston 28 carries at its underside "a downwardly projecting sleeve 51,which may be formed integrally with the piston, and which terminatesdownwardly in an annular planar key engaging and driving surface 52disposed transversely of axis 15, and adapted to engage and displacedownwardly the upper transverse end surfaces 53 of keys 22. Internally,the piston 28 and its downwardly projecting sleeve portion 51 contain anelongated cylindrical passage 54 dimensioned essentially incorrespondence with an outer cylindrical surface 55 of shaft 29, andannularly sealed with respect thereto by annular engagement of a sealring 56 with surface 55 and with the walls of a groove 57 formed in theinterior of the piston and within which ring 56 is received. Shaft 29 isthus effectively located within the piston, but is free for rotationrelative to the piston about axis 15.

Cylindrical surface 55 of shaft 29 terminates down- 'wardly at thelocation of an annular shoulder 58 desirably disposed transversely ofaxis 15, and dimensioned to be engaged by surface 26 of the insert bodyin a manner limiting the extent to which that body may be screwed ontothreads 30 of the shaft. These threads 30 commence at the location ofshoulder 58, and continue downwardly to the lower extremity 59 of theshaft. As seen in FIG. 2, shoulder 58 is so located as to be receivedaxially inwardly a short distance beyond the plane of stop surface 44 ofthe cylinder body structure, to thus automatically set the insertslightly beneath a flush condition as seen in FIG. 3.

The upper end of shaft 29 may have external threads 60 (FIG. 2) ontowhich two internally threaded elements 61 and 62 may be screwed, withthese elements being tightened against one another in lock nut fashionto positively retain them in any desired set position, and with one orboth of these elements being knurled as shown at 162 to facilitatemanual turning of elements 61 and 62 and the connected shaft 29. Thepreviously mentioned screw 34 (FIG. 2) is threadedly connected into athreaded passage 63 formed in cylinder body section 32, and has anenlarged head 64 which is adapted to confine an annular flange portion65 of element 61 against axially upward movement relative to thecylinder, to thus prevent separation of the shaft from the cylinder. Atits underside, flange 65 has a transverse surface 66 which engagestransverse annular surface 67 of the cylinder, to accurately determinethe extent to which the shaft may be pulled downwardly relative to thebody, and thus accurately determine the positioning of shoulder 58 ofthe shaft.

In now describing a cycle of use of the tool, assume first of all thatvalve 36 is in a condition to relieve the pressure within cylinderchamber 35, and that piston 28 is therefore held in its upper full lineposition of FIG. 2 by spring 45. With the tool in this condition, a usermay first screw insert 11 onto the lower threaded end 30 of shaft 29,until the insert reaches the position of FIG. 3 in which end surface 26of the insert body engages and is halted by shoulder 58 of the shaft. Inthis condition, end surface 52 of sleeve portion 51 of the piston isprefcrably spaced slightly above end surface 26 of the insert.

With the insert thus retained on the shaft, the user aligns the insertwith passage 13 of the carrier part (FIG. 1), and advances the tool andinsert downwardly while manually or otherwise turning elements 61 and/or 62, to thus rotate shaft 29 and the insert in a manner screwing theinsert into the carrier part. When the insert reaches the FIG. 2position, further advancement of the insert is halted automatically,either by engagement of shoulder 44 of the tool body with surface 16 ofthe carrier part, or by engagement of the inner end shoulders 25 of thekeys with countersink surface 17 of the carrier part. The tool, insertand carrier part may be so designed that these two stopping actionsoccur substantially simultaneously, though normally the tolerances ofmanufacture will be such that completely simultaneous contact of the twosets of stop shoulders cannot be attained, and therefore in anyparticular instance one of the two stops will become effective beforethe other and will serve as the actual installation limiting factor.

After the insert has been positively restrained in this manner againstfurther advancement into the carrier part, the operator actuates valve36 to admit compressed .air or other actuating pressure fluid to chamber35, and

thereby force piston 28 downwardly to its broken line FIG. 2 position,so that the downward advancement of lower end surface 52 of sleeveportion 51 of the piston drives the keys axially inwardly or downwardlyfrom the FIG. 2 setting to the FIG. 3 position. During such movement,the keys cut through the carrier part material in a manner forming aneffective interlock preventing unscrewing of the insert from the carrierpart. The downward advancement of the piston is halted by engagement ofend surface 52 of sleeve portion 51 with upper end surface 26 of theinsert (or with the parent material if preferred), to in this Wayautomatically halt the axial driving of the keys at a properly installedposition, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3. Finally, the operator mayactuate valve 36 to release the piston for upward returning movement,following which elements 61 and 62 may be turned to unscrew shaft 29from the insert body in preparation for the next successive installingoperation.

I claim:

1. A tool for installing within an opening in a carrier part a threadedelement having a locking portion adapted to be driven relative to therest of said element to a position for locking the element in saidopening, said tool including an elongated shaft rotatable about an axisand adapted to engage said element and rotate the element about saidaxis to screw it into said opening, a driving structure mounted formovement axially relative to said shaft at a location to drive saidlocking portion of the element to said locking position, a fluidactuated mechanism including a cylinder and an essentially annularpiston which is disposed about said shaft within the cylinder and isfluid actuable relative to both the cylinder and shaft and essentiallyparallel to said axis and toward a first end of the shaft and isoperable by such actuation to move said driving structure axially andthereby drive said locking portion to locking position, said elongatedshaft extending axially entirely through and being rotatable relative tosaid cylinder and having external threads at said first end for engagingand holding said element, said shaft having means beyond said cylinderat the opposite end of the shaft for turning the shaft relative to thecylinder, said driving structure including a sleeve projecting from andmovable with said piston and disposed about said shaft and having an endportion engageable with said locking portion of the element to drive itto said locking position, a spring disposed about said shaft and saidsleeve and yieldingly resisting movement of the piston toward said firstend of the shaft, a second sleeve projecting axially from and carried bysaid cylinder and disposed about said shaft and said first sleeve andhaving an end stop shoulder surface engageable with said carrier part ina relation limiting advancement of the element into said carrier part,and valve means for controlling the admission of actuating fluid to saidcylinder.

2. A tool for installing within an opening in a carrier part a threadedelement having a locking portion adapted to be driven relative to therest of said element to a position for locking the element in saidopening, said tool including a spindle rotatable about an axis, means atone end of said spindle for retaining said element and transmittingrotary motion thereto from the spindle to screw the element into saidcarrier part, a body disposed about said spindle and forming a pressurefluid containing chamber extending about a portion of the spindle, amovable fluid actuated wall within said body and exposed to the pressureof fluid in said chamber and movable axially thereby relative to boththe body and spindle, said spindle extending axially entirely throughsaid fluid actuated wall from one side thereof to its opposite side, anda driving structure movable axially by and with said fluid actuated walland relative to said body and said spindle and operable upon said axialmovement to drive said locking portion of the element to said lockingposition.

3. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said means at said one end ofthe spindle include threads carried by the spindle and engageable inholding and rotary driving relation with threads of said element.

4. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said driving structureincludes a sleeve disposed about and movable axially relative to saidspindle.

5. A tool as recited in claim 2, including means carried by said bodyand forming a stop shoulder positionedv and constructed to engage saidcarrier part in a relation limiting advancement of said element intosaid carrier part by said spindle.

6. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said driving structure is asleeve about said spindle projecting from said fluid actuated wall andmovable axially by said wall relative to the spindle.

7. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said driving structure is asleeve about said spindle projecting from said fluid actuated wall andmovable axially by said wall relative to the spindle, there being asecond sleeve projecting from said body and disposed about said firstmentioned sleeve and having a stop shoulder at one end thereofengageable with the carrier part to limit advancement of said elementinto the carrier part.

8. A tool as recited in claim 2, including a spring yieldingly resistingadvancement of said fluid actuated wall relative to said spindle.

9. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said spindle extends from saidone end thereof entirely through said body and said chamber and hasmeans beyond said body at the opposite end of the spindle for turningthe spindle relative to the body.

10. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said means at said one end ofthe spindle include threads carried by the spindle and engageable inholding and rotary driving relation with threads of said element, saidspindle extending from said one end entirely through said body and saidchamber and having a handle beyond said body at the opposite end of thespindle for turning the spindle relative to the body.

11. A tool as recited in claim 2, including means retaining said spindleagainst axial movement relative to said body but enabling rotary motionrelative to the body about said axis.

12. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said means at said one end ofthe spindle include threads carried by the spindle and engageable inholding and rotary driving relation with threads of said element, saidbody being a cylinder and said wall being a piston, said spindleextending from said one end entirely through said cylinder and having ahandle beyond said cylinder at the opposite end of the spindle forturning the spindle relative to the cylinder, said driving structurebeing a sleeve about said spindle projecting from said piston andactuable axially by the piston relative to the spindle, there being asecond sleeve projecting from said cylinder and disposed about saidfirst mentioned sleeve and having a stop shoulder at one end thereofengageable with the carrier part to limit advancement of said elementinto the carrier part.

13. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said spindle extends fromsaid one end thereof entirely through said body and said chamber and hasmeans beyond said body at the opposite end of the spindle for turningthe spindle relative to the body, a flange on the spindle near saidopposite end thereof, and a fastener secured to said body and confiningsaid flange and thereby said spindle against axial movement.

14. A tool as recited in claim 2, in which said driving structure is asleeve about said spindle projecting from said fluid actuated wall andmovable axially by said wall relative to the spindle, there being asecond sleeve projecting from said body and disposed about said firstmentioned sleeve and having a stop shoulder at one end thereofengageable with the carrier part to limit advancement of said elementinto the carrier part, and a spring disposed about said first sleeve andradially between it and said second sleeve and resisting advancement ofsaid wall relative to said spindle.

15. A tool for installing within an opening in a carrier part a threadedelement having a locking portion adapted to be driven relative to therest of said element to a position for locking the element in saidopening, said tool including a spindle rotatable about an axis andadapted to engage said element and rotate the element about said axis toscrew it into said opening, a driving structure mounted for movementaxially relative to said spindle at a location to drive said lockingportion of the element to said locking position, and a fluid actuatedmechanism including a first section and a second section one of which isactuable by fluid pressure relative to the other and relative to saidspindle and essentially parallel to said axis and is operable by suchactuation to move said driving structure axially and thereby drive saidlocking portion to locking position, said spindle extending through saidfluid actuated mechanism and having a first portion at one side of saidmechanism for engaging and holding said element, and a second portion atthe opposite side of said mechanism which is accessible for applicationof turning force thereto to turn said spindle and said element.

16. A tool as recited in claim 15, in which said first portion of thespindle includes a threaded first end of the spindle for threadedlyengaging and retaining said element, said second portion being a handleat the opposite end of the spindle for manually turning it.

17. A tool as recited in claim 15, in which said driving structureincludes a sleeve disposed about said spindle, there being a secondsleeve about said first sleeve and engageable with the carrier part in arelation limiting advancement of said element thereinto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,342 4/1957 Rosan 81-5352,858,601 11/1958 Cummaro 29240 2,929,134 3/1960 Mosher 29240 JAMES L.JONES, 111., Primary Examiner.

